Yes, they are caught in Sept-Îles and eaten in Matane, and they are excellent.
In philosophy, we say words are very important, so let us stop saying that words like “unique” and “distinct” no longer mean anything. Even Claude Ryan said these words were meaningless. When we ask our hon. friends opposite whether they are prepared to recognize us as a founding people, they all start to stammer and stutter. They do not have the guts to say they cannot recognize us as a founding people because, when it comes down to it, they do not recognize us. Well at least they are consistent. They are afraid to come out and say so. That I can understand, and I thank them for being consistent. I can follow that.
The government, however, is doing everything it can to diminish us, to reduce us to the level of some ethnic group. I may recall that aboriginal peoples were here at the very beginning. Everybody recognizes them. Then, we had two founding peoples. Everybody acknowledges that. But today, it would be nice if members opposite were able to say yes, you are a people.
I was in Vancouver during the holidays. A very nice place, but I could not feel at home there. Perhaps the Vancouverites who come to Quebec feel the same. I respect that. There is something missing, however. Are we treated as equals? I think not. The people down home have a rather colourful way of speaking, and I am going to adopt a bit of that. Such a lovely way of speaking. They do not mince words.
They are sick and tired of commissions, of all the different commissions. They are also sick and tired of the attacks on our integrity. They are disgusted, too, by the psychological profiles of the premier of Quebec. They sick and tired of seeing the multinationals using tax havens to get rich. They have been demanding action on this for a long time. Yet nothing happens. They are sick and tired, as well, of seeing the rich families protected by family trusts. Sick and tired of seeing banks making billion dollar profits.
I asked a big banker “Would you go bankrupt if Canadian taxes were raised a little?” He said “Not at all”. Do you know why? Do you know why the rich of this country are protected? That is easy to understand. Big businesses are the ones contributing to campaign funds, and then they find the Prime Minister's door wide open to them, the ministers' doors wide open to them. “We gave, so now it's our turn”. That works out very well.
There was an attempt made here to get a little bill passed on political party fundraising. No way would the Conservatives or the Liberals vote for that. Ask yourselves why, ladies and gentlemen. My fellow citizens know very well why not. We can see that the hands of the members opposite are tied. The people at home and even the people in the Atlantic provinces have not forgiven them.
Employment insurance, which I call poverty insurance, is causing problems at home. Some people are going to find the winter long: 910 hours to start. Some mothers and fathers are short 50 or 75 hours. Will they go on welfare? If they do, as you know, when you have children, they will have to sell their house. Obviously it is a last resort. We are entitled to a few thousand bucks in the bank.
That means those people are without hope. I have seen people crying in my office because they found this legislation so totally inhumane. This government has not the heart to change it.
I hope that those who do have a little heart will understand people living in poverty. What is there in the speech from the throne for the rural community? One little, very little, minuscule paragraph: “It is our good intention to—”. Go ahead and read it again. I have not got time to read it, but read it carefully.
What is in it for fishers? Nothing. What about forest workers? Absolutely nothing. And farmers? Nothing. A fine country, great and rich. They are busting with pride.
Our people are no fools. The people in my riding voted 64 per cent in favour of sovereignty in the last referendum, and the vote will be even higher in the next one, because the government is totally inhumane and unfair to rural communities. It says: “Let us feed the rich, because they support us”.